Osteosarcoma vaccine

Immunotherapy for bone cancer has been developed

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

The drug replaces toxic chemotherapy and has already shown high efficacy in animals with osteosarcoma. Clinical trials in humans will begin soon.

Researchers from the University of Missouri (USA) have developed a therapy against bone cancer for the treatment of humans and pets. The treatment involves the use of their own malignant cells to "train" immunity to cancer, according to the university's website.

Osteosarcoma affects adults and children, but is even more common among dogs. It was on them that the team tested the experimental method of immunotherapy.

The vaccine consists of lymphocytes and involves the use of the tumor's own cells so that the immune system can recognize them in the future, the authors explain.

This approach assumes that the vaccine will stimulate antitumor lymphocytes – immune cells that actively fight foreign pathogens. After returning back to the body, they destroy cancer cells.

Treatment of the dogs showed that they all had more than 400 days of remission compared to about 270 days in animals that received chemotherapy alone.

"For the first time, dogs with osteosarcoma demonstrate such long-term survival without chemotherapy," emphasizes scientist Jeffrey Brian.

The team will continue research to optimize the method for human clinical trials. Perhaps their approach will be effective for other types of cancer.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru